Town of Otsego Planning Board
Minutes - October 2, 2007
REGULAR MEETING
Chairman Paul Lord called the monthly meeting of the Town of Otsego Planning
Board to order at 7:31 PM. Roll call was taken by Planning Board Clerk Bill
Deane. Members
present were Lord, Donna Borgstrom (Vice-Chairman), Wes Ciampo, John Phillips,
and Joe Galati. Planning Board Attorney Jim Ferrari and Zoning Enforcement
Officer John
Stucin were also present. Member Doug Greene was absent.
The Board referred to the minutes of September 4, 2007, mailed to the members.
Borgstrom moved to approve the minutes as written. Phillips seconded the motion
and it was
approved, 5-0.
Zoning Enforcement Officer Stucin distributed copies of his report (filed)
for September-October. It listed his receipt of one Planning Board application,
one Zoning Board
of Appeals (ZBA) application, and eight land use permits issued.
Chairman Lord reviewed correspondence received since the last meeting:
a.. Copies (distributed to the members) of a guide from Otsego County Clerk
Kathleen Sinnott Gardner, regarding requirements for filing subdivision maps
with her office.
b.. A flier (passed around to the members) about a seminar, "Zoning, Subdivision
and Land Development Law," to be held at Syracuse on October 26.
With no further correspondence, the Board moved on to applications.
APPLICATIONS
John Nichols - Site plan review, demolition & replacement of house in Otsego Lakeshore protection area - 6870 State Highway 80 (#69.44-1-17.00)
Donna Borgstrom read aloud the minutes of September 4 relevant to this application.
Engineer Hans DeWaal submitted documents requested at that meeting, and
Board members reviewed them. Bill Deane reported that on September 18 Nichols
had appeared before the ZBA, which deemed his application complete and scheduled
a public
hearing for October 16.
Chairman Lord expressed concern about the increase of impervious surfaces
close to Otsego Lake. DeWaal described the seepage pit designed to mitigate
that
effect.
Borgstrom moved to deem this a Type II action, per New York State Environmental
Quality Review Act (SEQRA), section 617.5, (c)(9). Joe Galati seconded the
motion and it was approved, 5-0.
Borgstrom moved to deem the application complete. John Phillips seconded the motion and it was approved, 5-0.
Lord noted that the property is within 500 feet of the Town of Springfield
line, and that by General Municipal law #239M, the site plan should be sent
to
the County Planning Board as a requirement and the Springfield Planning Board
as a courtesy. Phillips moved to do so, Borgstrom seconded the motion, and
it was approved,
5-0. Deane said he would mail the site plans the next day.
Phillips suggested waiving the public hearing, in view of the ZBA's scheduled
hearing. Lord said there was nothing to lose by waiting for the result of the
ZBA hearing.
Chairman Lord advised applicant John Nichols that, if he were not able to
attend future meetings, he should write a letter authorizing DeWaal to represent
him.
John McGillvray - Sketch plan conference, minor subdivision - Buck Road (#83.00-1-25.02)
Applicant John McGillvray submitted a survey map with penciled-in lines,
showing his proposed subdivision of a 25.31-acre lot into three lots of
approximately 17, 4.5, and 3.5 acres, respectively. Chairman Lord noted that,
since 1987, the current lot had been split into two, and the two lots then
rejoined into the
original lot; however, even if that were considered a previous split, this
would still qualify as a minor subdivision.
Board members noted that the proposed lots meet acreage and frontage requirements,
and there seemed to be no Land Use Law issues with the subdivision. In
answer to membetrs' questions, McGillvray said that there were no easements
or rights of way on the property.
The Board provided McGillvray with copies of the Town's Land Subdivision
Regulations, Sections 4.5 (Lots) and 5.2 (Minor Subdivision Plat) to help him
in
filing a formal application. Lord told him he would also have to provide a
list (from the County) of neighbors within 200 feet of the property, and their
addresses. Bill
Deane asked him to give the Board at least two weeks' notice when he was ready
to come back before them.
OTHER BUSINESS
Steve Purcell introduced himself. Purcell is an applicant for the vacant Planning Board position.
Chairman Lord gave an update on the Comprehensive Plan. He said that a long
Environmental Assessment Form would be completed by the Town Board on October
3, a public hearing would be held on October 10, and the plan could be passed
as early as November.
Attorney Ferrari distributed copies of a memo containing his proposed solution
to the problem of "structure" in the Land Use Law. Chairman Lord
asked
members to review it and the Law before the next meeting, and be prepared to
decide whether this will solve it.
Attorney Ferrari reported that the Article 78 petition against the Votypka
decision had been withdrawn, so the matter is concluded. He noted that there
had
been no complaints about Votypka's business.
Bill Deane discussed the November 13 agenda, noting the date change due to
Election Day. He said that John Nichols would be returning, and that Joe Galati
had two sketch plan conferences to bring before the Board.
With no further business, at 8:46 PM Donna Borgstrom moved to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Deane
Planning Board Clerk